POLICE are probing the shooting of a cat which had to have one of its front legs amputated.

Officers believe that four-year-old Lily was shot at close range with an air rifle near her Mile End home in Coleford, possibly from a bedroom window.

Police Community Support Officer, Pete Timmins, said: “We would encourage anyone with knowledge of this to come forward as this was a cruel crime on a defenceless animal.”

Owner, Kim Hartley, saw Lily limping badly and took her to the vets, where she was shocked to find that a pellet had shattered the bones in the shoulder of her rehomed Cats’ Protection League pet.

Lily, who Kim calls Hoppity, is now recovering after surgery.

“She’s an adorable cat and so loving,” she said. “It’s hard to believe somebody could do something like this to her.”

Kim said she thought she had been hit by a car, but was shocked to be told Lily had been shot at an angle.

PCSO Timmins said anyone with information of the Wednesday, September 13, shooting should call 101 quoting incident 195 of 13/9 or email [email protected]